Workshop, in 8th year, to teach climbing basics

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

A nonprofit specializing in rescue and safety training will descend on — and ascend in — Benicia this week.

As part of its mission to promote safety in climbing, the California Arborists Association returns Friday to City Park for its annual climbing skills workshop.

“This is our eighth year at the City Park,” said longtime Benicia resident Jeremy Tibbets, president of both the CAA and A-Plus Tree Service, which hosts the event. “We might be the longest event that the California Arborists Association continues to have.”

Tibbets said the event is one of seven held across the state, from Los Angeles to Chico — but the Benicia workshop is by far the most popular.

Part of the success of the event is because of the charm of the city and the park itself. “It adds to the energy that everyone sees. The kids come around and watch. Everyone just loves it,” he said.

Another big part of the appeal: the Benicia workshop is the only one the CAA does that involves a human speed line, Tibbets said.

“We have people go up the tree and they get do ride down the speed line across City Park,” he said. “So that’s been our main attraction, our little trademark.”

The workshop includes seven different climbing stations, “so there’s seven different ways to go up and down a tree. We show them each one.” It features classes for all levels of climber, from beginning to advanced, including training for professionals. The event allows participants to get different levels of tree-climbing experience in one day.

Tibbets said a lot of rock climbers look at tree climbing as another way to get outside and scramble around in nature. “Over the last five years it’s really turned into a sport,” he said.

“All these recreational tree climbers have no intention of ever buying a chainsaw,” he said. “It’s good because they’re doing advanced tree climbing, and usually they come from rock climbing. They have so much new gear and excitement.

“It’s a change from the old traditional ‘put a rope around a tree and pull yourself up.’ Now we’ve got all these gizmos and gadgets.”

Even the veteran climbers can learn about the new “gizmos,” Tibbets said, as well as a great place for beginning tree climbers to learn how to safely climb a tree.

And this year, more women are getting involved, Tibbets said, with six having already signed up.

“Normally we get a woman every other year,” he said.

Tibbets said he expects turnout to be huge this year. “The weather is really holding up nicely for us,” he said.

“I’ve been doing it for so many years that people know about it, and ask me about it. It’s a good community event. It’s a fun event.”

If You Go
The tree climbing workshop will take place in City Park from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Those interested in the class may email Jeremy Tibbets at jeremy@aplustree.com. Signups at the event are at 8 a.m. For more information about the California Arborists Association visit www.cal-arb-association.com.